This article is from: srnnews.com
Egypt Orders Independent Mada Masr Closed, Fines Editor $54,000
By The Media Line Staff
A court in Cairo ordered the closure of independent news website Mada Masr on Tuesday after convicting its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, of operating without a license under Egypt’s media law. The court also fined her 3 million Egyptian pounds (about $54,000), ordered the confiscation of the outlet’s equipment, and had her taken into custody pending payment.
The fine was the maximum permitted under the 2018 law governing press and media operations. Attalah’s lawyer, Hassan al-Azhari, said her legal team intended to appeal. Lawyers said the judge refused requests for more time to examine evidence and prevented them from calling witnesses.
Mada Masr, founded in 2013 and known for investigations into government affairs, says it has applied repeatedly for a license since 2018. It says regulators did not initially answer and that it learned in 2022, during a separate investigation, that an application had been rejected. A subsequent application remains unanswered, according to the outlet.
Prosecutors questioned Attalah last week about the website’s licensing status and reporting on prison protests. An accusation of publishing false news was not included when she was referred for trial.
The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Tuesday’s judgment. Its regional director, Sara Qudah, called the ruling “a devastating blow to press freedom in Egypt” and urged Attalah’s release.
Egyptian authorities have maintained that media organizations must comply with licensing requirements and national security laws. The Supreme Council for Media Regulation has said it supports outlets meeting official conditions but has not publicly addressed this case.
Mada Masr’s website has been blocked inside Egypt since 2017, although it has continued publishing. The verdict follows the September detention of six journalists from the fact-checking outlet Matsadaash, another case that has drawn international criticism.
Attalah remained in custody following the verdict while her lawyers sought arrangements for paying the fine and pursuing an appeal.
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